Needs vs. Wants

 My kids tease me that I love my sweat outfits...So.... I definitely do not need anymore of those for Christmas, since I basically have every color.

 This is what my sticker used to look like on the back of my car.

This is what it looks like after 5 years on the back of my car...Scott and Taylor ripped themselves off since they were decapitated.  I didn't really care about the stickers and did not think it mattered...Until...I went to the gas station and this man was being really "friendly" to me as I was filling up my tank (side note...I was wearing my sweat outfit).  We started talking and it became clear why he was being so friendly to me, so I told him I was married.  He said I assumed you weren't married...he then pointed to the back of my car.  I have no man sticker...I came home and told my man that I need a new car for Christmas.  He said I just need a new sticker!!  I can't put a new sticker on an old car...a new sticker only works on a new car. Duh!!!  

Ella the Elf

Our "Elf on the Shelf" is in sooo much trouble!  Last night, she made snow angels in the flour.  Brody was scared one morning when Ella was playing with knives.  I heard that Ella almost had ketchup next to her playing with the knives...but better judgement was used.

High Enough

Every year we try to add some new Christmas decoration to our front yard.  I could not find something that I wanted to buy this year.  I am not liking those new tinsel lawn decorations...I don't think they will last more than a year.  So we decided to decorate our street lamp.  It is higher than it looks.  Carly wanted to go higher but I was too scared to let her.  Maybe next year I will let her go a smidge higher.  Merry Christmas to my neighbors and to our city code enforcement officers!!

Roses

The only thing she wanted on her cake were roses made of icing... I thought it was random, but it is her birthday cake.

Syd is 9

Sydney came into the world so fast that the doctor and her Dad did not make it to the delivery.  

 Sometimes I feel bad because I don't remember her much as a baby because I was so overwhelmed with three kids that I was just trying to survive.   I remember she was an easy baby and just went with the flow.

My favorite age of all my kids is 2...that is when I can really tell who they will be.  She was so hard to figure out.

She loves being a girly....girl.

 She is the best of friends and the worst of friends with her brother.

She loves pictures of herself.

 She says soccer is her life.

 She is never scared to try new things.

 She knows exactly who she is...even though she is in the shadows of 2 sisters.

She is our assassin and tom boy on the soccer field...example...she overheard a coach on the opposite team tell a girl playing against Syd that he wanted to see Syd down on the grass.  Syd overheard his comment and next thing you knew the other girl was down on the grass.  Don't mess with Sydney.

She is a loud little girl...yet she is sooo quiet.  She does not mind just being by herself and her thoughts.

She is our Sydney and we have loved you from the moment you entered the world 9 years ago.   

HB!

No Supervision

Something is so wrong with riding the animals in the Nativity...Really wrong climbing on baby Jesus...Really, Really wrong taking pictures of all of this.  I was not the adult who was supervising...but the supervising adult does get some pretty good pics!

Brody must be excited that this is the place where all the magic started...

New Thanksgiving Tradition

 We have only had this tradition for 2 years...but I think it will be fun in a couple of years to look back.  It was fun just to see what we wrote last year.  We take a white table cloth and at Thanksgiving we draw or write with sharpies what we are thankful for...including our name and year.  Eventually, it is supposed to be used as a Thanksgiving Table cloth and a great conversation starter.

Brody...I am thankful for Mom.  The brown thing coming out of my head is my ponytail and the two circles under my chin is my bra.  Don't act like this won't be a funny table conversation in a few years. 

Sydney....I am thankful for my family.  She is holding hands with Brody which is very humorous since they have the hardest time getting along.

 Carly...Basically grateful for everything and all we do for her.

Taylor...Grateful for some teenage things.  I am glad she is grateful for Justin Bieber and not Mom and Dad.  He has done so much for her in 2012.

Scott...I guess trying to convince himself to be grateful to be old.

 Me...grateful my parent teacher conferences are pleasant.

This is how full it is after 2 years...space for many more years.